Match-testing apparatus.



F. VAN D. CRUSER.

MATCH TESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29, 1914.

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES.

COLUMBIA PLANOGMPM CO.,WASHINOTON. D c.

F. VAN D. CRUSER.

MATCH TEST'NG APPARATUS- APPLICATION FILED OCT'ZQ. [9|4. 1 1,7'7. Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

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COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH 60.,WASHINQ'NN. D. c.

tion of the apparatus.

lUNTTED %TATE% PATENT @FFTQE.

FREDERICK VAN DYKE CRUSER, OF BARBERTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MATCH-TESTING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. "7, 1915.

Application filed October 29, 1914. Serial No. 869,198.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnonnron V. D. GRUsnR, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Barberton, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match- Testing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for determining the frictional ignition sensitiveness or striking efliciency of the composition comprising the heads of matches.

The object of my invention is to provide a structure by means of which a specimen match can be effectually supported and its head subjected to rubbing friction closely approximating that resulting from the usual manual operation of striking a match, and this without liability of breaking the match splint.

My invention comprises a specimen-match holder mounted to oscillate or swing at variable speeds across an ignition surface and to rub the match head with a steady though yielding pressure upon such surface.

My invention also comprises certain structural features of the match holder and its supporting and speed-regulating parts, to gether with various details of construction, all of which will be hereinafter described and claimed. I

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a side elovation of an apparatus embodying my invention, a specimen match being indicated thereon. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail, enlarged, through the adjustable supporting arm for the match holding pendulum, as on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the match holder showing a specimen match as ,held thereby. Fig. i is a transverse section of said holder, as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end eleva- Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through the basal part of the apparatus, as on the, line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section through the pivotal mounting of the pendulum, as on the line 77 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of a clamp for the ignition strip.

The base 10 and standard 11 constitute the supporting frame of the machine. 011 the base is a horizontal casing 12 including a top plate'13 to which is detachably secured by clamp bars 14: a strip of material 15 havinga suitable frictional or striking surface, against which the head of the match (as a) to be tested is rubbed, as will be presently explained. The clamp bars are held in place by set-screws 16 passing therethrough into the top plate of the casing. This top plate is preferably slidingly fitted to guides 17 in the sides of the casing and is provided with means whereby the'plate may be intermittently shifted transversely of the casing in order that a fresh part of the frictional surface may be presented to succeeding match heads as need may require. Any suitable means for shifting the plate may be employed. In the present instance is shown a shifting means similar to that set out in a companion application Serial No. 869197, filed October 29, 1914-; that is to say, the underside of the plate is provided with rack teeth 45 with which meshes a pinion 46 on a shaft 47 having hearings in the respective sides of the casing. One end of' the shaft is extended beyond the casing and is provided with two reversed ratchet wheels 49, 50, between which is mounted to swing on the shaft a T-lever 51 having at the ends of its cross-arm two pivoted pawls 52, 53, respectively. These pawls are so disposed that when the lever 51 is thrown into the forwardly-projecting position indicated in Fig. 5, the lower pawl 52 is idle and the upper pawl 53 may be engaged with the teeth of the outer ratchet wheel 49, and the latter thus by actuation of the lever can be advanced step-by-step correspondingly to turn the pinion and move the top plate forward; and that when the lever is thrown rearward to a reverse position the then lower pawl is inactive and the then upper pawl may be engaged with the teeth of the inner wheel 50, so that by actuation of the lever the latter wheel may be rotated step-by-step in a manner to turn the pinion and move the top rearward. Suitably-spaced apart on the base are spring-controlled latches 57 which serve to maintain the lever in its respective positions.

Mounted to swing on a horizontal pin 18 as an axis, at the top of the standard, preferably with the assistance of ball bearings 19, is a depending arm 20, the lower part of which is movable adjacent a suitably-dis posed segment bar 21 on the standard. This bar is concentric with the armand is provided with a slot 22 of arcuate form and also at intervals with transverse holes 23 for a purpose below described.

Adjacent to and parallel with the arm 20 o is a bar 24 which extends below the segment,

and in conjunction with the arm constitutes, in effect, a pendulum which oscillates on the axis 18. This bar is jointed to the arm 20 by means of suitably-spaced links 25 provided with toes 26 which bearing against the arm limit the downward movement of the bar and yet leave it free to mov upward.

The lower extremity of the bar 24 is longitudinally bored to receive a hollow plunger 27 which is normally depressed by the action of a confined spring 28. The plunger is guided and limited in its vertical movement by a pin 27 which. extends through one side of the bar and enters a longitudinal groove in the plunger. This plunger has a series of transverse perforations 29 tlierethrough, one above the'other, any'of' which may be brought into register with a perforation 30 in the arm, and the plunger then be held in position by means of a detachable pin 31 entered in the registering perforations. One side of the plunger is recessed below the plunger for the reception of a gripper jaw 32 which is hinged to the arm, said jaw being held normally in clamping position by the action thereon of a suitably-disposed spring33 on the arm. The inner face of this jaw and the'opposing faceof the arm (or' a wear plate 34: on the latter) are longitudinally recessed to afford when the jaw is closed an orifice in line axially with the bore of the plunger. In operationthe jaw is opened and the untioped end of a match is inserted in the axial orifice, entered into the plunger until such end contacts with the transverse pin 31, and then forced up until the spring are connected by a slide-head 36 which is guided in the slot of said bar. This slot is of'sufiicient extent to permit the arm 35 to be freely swung through-an arc of about 45 to the vertical. The slide is suitably perforated for the reception of a pin 37 which may be inserted in any of the holes 23 in th segment bar in order temporarily to lock the arm at any desired angle.

Slidingly fitted to a vertical guide formed in the inner side of the slide 36 is the vertical member 38 of an angular gage, the lower horizontal member 39 of which extends under the slide. Themember 38 is adjustably held in place by a thumb-screw 40 so that the gage may be readily raised or lowered and secured in any desired position of adjustment.

Pivoted to a the slide is a thumb latch 41, the nose of which is held normally in inward locking position by means of a torsional spring 42 which, encircling the pivot pin of the latch, is secured to the latch and to the bracket. This latch is so disposed that when the pendulum bearing the match is swung rear ward into position with the match directly above the gage member 39, the nose of the latch grasps and holds the bar 24. l/Vhen the parts are thus arranged the gripper jaw 32 is openedv slightly by hand, the confined spring 33 thus forcing down the plunger and depressing the contained match until its head contacts with the gage member, whereupon the jaw is released and permitted to clamp the'match thus positioned. I

By properly pressing the thumb latch 41 the pendulum is freed and permitted to wing downward by gravity, the match head in its travel slidingly contacting with the striking surface, and the link connections between the bar and arm of the pendulum allowing the bar to shift longitudinally and so enablethe match to move in the horizontalplaneof and in steady though yielding rubbing contact with such surface. This rubbing action closely approximates that resulting from the usual manual operation of striking a match.

By adjusting the latch arm at various predetermined angles on the segment'bar, the pendulum may be correspondingly set and released in order to vary the speed of the pendulum in its descent and thus determine the relative ignition sensitiveness of the match heads as requirements may demand.

As a simple and eflicient means to prevent the pendulum from swinging backward, with consequent liability of dropping the burning match upon the striking surface, I preferably provide the arm 20 with a gravity dog 43 which automatically engages the teeth of a suitably-disposed ratchet extension 140f the segment bar. The burning match is removed from the pendulum and the testing operation is repeated. I

l/Vhen a specimen match is applied to the match holder the parts are conveniently disin Fig. 1'. j

It may be added that plates, or shims, of different thickness may be interposed between the plate 13 and the striking material bracket on the outer side of posed about in the relative positions shown 15 so as to vary the plane of the ignition surface in respect to the path of the match head as desired.

I claim- 1. In a match testing machine, a support, a pendulum thereon including a match holder having capacity for independent movement longitudinally of the pendulum, and a horizontal ignition element arranged in the path of the head of a match projecting downwardly from said holder.

2. In a match testing machine, a support, a pendulum thereon including a match holder having capacity for independent movement longitudinally of the pendulum, a horizontal ignition element arranged in the path of the head of a match projecting downwardly from said holder, and means for temporarily locking said pendulum in different angular positions relative to said element.

3. In a match testing machine, a support, a pendulum thereon comprising two parallel members whereof one is movable lengthwise of the other, a match holder on said movable member, and an ignition element in the path of the head of a match in said holder.

In a match testing machine, a support, a pendulum thereon comprising two parallel members whereof one is movable lengthwise of the other, a match holder on said movable member, an ignition element in the path of the head of a match in said holder, and means for temporarily locking said pendulum at different angular positions relative to said element.

5. In a match testing machine, a support, a pendulum thereon comprising two parallel members whereof one is movable lengthwise of the other, a match holder on said movable member, an ignition element in the path of the head of a match in said holder, a latch member for temporarily locking said pendulum at different angular positions relative to said element, a support for said latch member, and means whereby the latch member may be adjustably secured on said latter support.

6. In a match testing machine, a supporting frame, a pendulum thereon having a radially yielding match holder, an ignition element in the path of the head of a match in said holder, a swinging arm on said frame, a slide on said arm, a guide for said slide, means for securing the slide at different points of adjustment in the guide, and a latch on said slide for engaging and temporarily locking the pendulum.

7. In a match testing machine having a match holder movable through a striking path, said holder including a body portion, a verticallv movable splint-end receiving member therein, a spring acting to depress said member, means for securing said member at different positions of longitudinal adiustment, and a gripper jaw on said body portion below the splint receiving member.

8. In a match testing machine having a match holder movable through a striking path, said holder including a body portion, a vertically movable splint-end receiving member therein, a spring acting to depress said member, means for securing said member at different positions of longitudinal adjustment, a gripper jaw on said'body portion below the splint receiving member, and a gage member located in the path of the match head.

9. In a match testing machine having a match holder movable through a striking path, means for temporarily locking said holder in starting position, and a gage at such position to determine the extent of projection of the match head from the holder.

10. In a match testing machine having a swinging match holder, an ignition element in the path of the head of amatch in said holder, and means for preventing backward movement of the holder when it has swung forwardly across the ignition element.

11. In a match testing machine having a swinging match holder, an ignition element in the path of the head of a match in said holder, a pawl on said holder, and a ratchet member supported in position to be engaged by the pawl after the holder has swung forwardlv across the ignition element.

Signed at the city and county of Oswego, and State of New York this 26th day of October A. D. 1914.

FREDERICK VAN DYKE CRUSER.

Witnesses:

W'. E. STAFFORD, C. K. LIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

